“Forgotten Hollywood”- Those Were the Days…
Manny P. here… 
“`A transformational shift in sitcoms occurred due to the efforts of M*A*S*H, Mary Tyler Moore and especially Norman Lear. It was Lear who considered topical political and social themes that had been previously recognized as taboo in television. Lear also introduced us to Archie Bunker, Fred Sanford and Maude, among others.
“`The moment which had inspired a lifetime of cultural advocacy was when he first came across anti-Semitic Catholic radio priest Father Charles Coughlin while tinkering with his crystal radio set. Norman became an outspoken supporter of First Amendment and liberal causes.
“`A comedy writer and film director (he wrote and produced the 1967 film Divorce American Style and directed the 1971 film Cold Turkey, both starring Dick Van Dyke), Lear tried to sell a concept for a sitcom about a blue-collar American family. After a third pilot was taped, CBS picked up the show, known as All in the Family. An instant success, it spawned a number of spin-offs, including Maude, Good Times, The Jefferson’s, One Day at a Time and Archie Bunker’s Place. Another big hit, Sanford and Son, was based on a British sitcom, Steptoe and Son. Lear also developed the cult favorite, Mary Hartman Mary Hartman. Among the films he eventually produced: The Princess Bride, Fried Green Tomatoes and Start The Revolution Without Me.
“`Lear received many awards, including six Primetime Emmys, two Peabody’s, National Medal of Arts, Kennedy Center Honors, and Golden Globe Carol Burnett Award. He was a member of the Television Academy Hall of Fame.
“`On a personal note, I had the pleasure to enjoy a live episode of All in the Family while in the studio audience in the 1970s. About a decade ago, I actually met Norman Lear backstage at an event honoring Michael Feinstein. He was lucid and self-deprecating in his humor.
“`Norman Lear (above right) was 101.
Until next time> “never forget”
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